Lomandra confertifolia plant named &#39;SIR5&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘SIR5’ is a distinctive variety of  Lomandra confertifolia  which is characterized by the combination of its compact growth habit, shorter leaf blade, and the very glaucous texture of the leaf blade, which gives the foliage color an overall grey-green appearance.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Ser. No. 60/652,577, filed Feb. 14, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Lomandra confertifolia.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The inventive variety of Lomandra confertifolia disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘SIR5’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety of Lomandra confertifolia, which has been given the variety denomination of ‘SIR5’. Lomandra confertifolia is a species of grass-like plant native to Australia and belonging to the Xanthorrhoeacea family. It is anticipated that the plant of this invention will be marketed under the tradename Wingarra. The market class for ‘SIR5’ is that of an ornamental grass-like plant. ‘SIR5’ is intended for use in landscaping and as a decorative grass-like plant.

Lineage: The Lomandra confertifolia variety ‘SIR5’ was first discovered as a seedling in January 1998 in an Australian nursery in the state of New South Wales during a routine inspection of large quantities of common Lomandra confertifolia production stock. ‘SIR5’ was selected due to its very glaucous upper side leaf texture.

Asexual reproduction: ‘SIR5’ was first propagated asexually by division in the state of New South Wales, Australia and has since been asexually propagated by division and micropropagation. The distinctive characteristics of the inventive ‘SIR5’ variety have remained stable and true to type through successive cycles of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘SIR5’ is a distinctive variety of Lomandra confertifolia, which is characterized by the combination of its compact growth habit, shorter leaf blade, and the very glaucous texture of the leaf blade, which gives the foliage color an overall grey-green appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a ‘SIR5’ plant at about 13 months of age.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of a Lomandra confertifolia ornamental grass-like plant known as ‘SIR5’. Unless indicated otherwise, plant observations were made on 16-month-old plants grown in New South Wales, Australia in nursery pots and field plots. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 1995 edition.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘SIR5’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ with variations in the environment such as season, temperature, light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like.

‘SIR5’ is a perennial, dioecious (male-only), Lomandra confertifolia plant, which is a seedling selection from common Lomandra confertifolia. After its selection, ‘SIR5’ was asexually propagated by division. ‘SIR5’ has an overall foliage color that appears to be grey-green due to a very glaucous leaf texture. The glaucous leaf texture and grey-green coloration are unusual for Lomandra confertifolia plants, which usually have weak leaf glaucosity and an overall yellow-green to green foliage color. The combination of its compact form and glaucous leaf texture makes ‘SIR5’ an attractive ornamental grass-like plant. A botanical description of ‘SIR5’ and comparisons with other varieties of Lomandra confertifolia are provided below.

-   Technical Decription of the Variety. -   Growth habit: ‘SIR5’ is a short, rhizomatous plant forming a compact     tussock. Average plant height is 35 cm and average plant spread is     45 cm in a mature plant grown in a 140 mm nursery or field pot in     Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. A representative Lomandra     confertifolia ‘SIR5’ plant is shown in FIG. 1. -   Leaves: Width narrow (generally 2 mm), uniform from base to tip,     average length 33 cm, upper and lower side color of leaf     yellow-green (RHS 147A-B), surface texture strongly glaucous     resulting in an overall greyed foliar color approximating grey-green     (RHS 189A-B); leaf base cauline; leaf margin entire, margins shred     at base to a grey-orange color (RHS165A); leaf apex dentate;     venation pattern parallel, color yellow-green (RHS 147A-B); in     cross-section, emerging new leaves flat and mature leaves concave.     -   -   Basal sheath.—Color brown (RHS 200A) and grey-purple             (RHS187D). -   Roots: Fibrous and spreading, similar to other Lomandra     confertifolia. -   Rhizomes: Very short (3 cm to 4 cm); color with leaf sheath removed     is white (RHS 155C); surface texture smooth. -   Bud: Shape oval, color grey-purple (RHS 183C). -   Inflorescence: Spike (a panicle of clusters), length 50-60 mm,     average width 25 mm, composed of male flowers only, predominant     color of inflorescence at anthesis yellow (RHS 6A).     -   -   Floret.—Sessile, average length 3 mm.         -   Pedicels.—Absent.         -   Bracts.—Average length 6 mm; color grey-brown (approximately             RHS 199D). -   Flowers: Outer perianth grey-purple (RHS 183C) proximally, yellow     green (RHS 146A-B) distally along the central zone, and grey-yellow     (RHS 161D) along each perianth segment margin; inner perianth yellow     (RHS 6A) fading toward the margin to yellow (RHS 13D).     -   -   Flower rachis.—Length 40-50 mm.         -   Reproductive organs.—Male only, six stamens, anther length             0.5 mm to 0.8 mm, anther color yellow (approximately RHS             8B). -   Flowering period: Primarily in the spring with secondary flowering     occurring in summer to autumn in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,     lasting approximately 9 days. -   Fragrance: Medium strength, typical of Lomandra confertifolia. -   Seed: Seed not produced. -   Environmental tolerances: ‘SIR5’ has shown potential for shade     tolerance. The winter hardiness of ‘SIR5’ is at least to zone 8a in     the Southeastern United States. ‘SIR5’ has excellent drought     tolerance. After severe wilting, ‘SIR5’ has been noted to recover     with watering. ‘SIR5’ does well in sandy soils, but also tolerates     heavy, clay-type soils well.

Disease Resistance: ‘SIR5’ has good resistance to root rot comparable with most other Lomandra confertifolia.

These and other features and characteristics of ‘SIR5’ are apparent from FIG. 1.

-   Comparison of ‘SIR5’ with Other Varieties of Lomandra confertifolia

‘SIR5’ has a compact growth habit with a shorter plant height and a narrower plant diameter and leaves that are shorter than common Lomandra confertifolia. The coloration of ‘SIR5’ is distinct from that of common Lomandra confertifolia and another comparable type known as ‘Little Con’ (unpatented). ‘SIR5’ has a more glaucous leaf texture resulting in an overall grey-green foliage color, whereas common Lomandra confertifolia and ‘Little Con’ have an overall yellow-green foliage color. Furthermore, ‘SIR5’ has brown to grey-purple basal shoots with grey-orange shredded margins as compared to ‘Little Con’, which has yellow-green basal shoots with grey-orange margins and grey-yellow shredded margins. ‘SIR5’ has a small flower spike typical of Lomandra confertifolia.

The novelty and distinctiveness of ‘SIR5’ as compared with other varieties of Lomandra confertifolia is further illustrated in Table 1. TABLE 1 Foliage Plant Plant Leaf blade overall height width length Leaf blade color- Variety (cm) (cm) (cm) glaucosity ation ‘SIR5’ 35 45 33 Strong Grey- green Common 42 62 44 Weak Yellow- Lomandra green confertifolia ‘Little 26 34 22 Weak Yellow- Con’ green Test Plots were planted in September 2004, at Abulk Nursery in Windsor, New South Wales, Australia by Abulk Pty Ltd. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Lomandra confertifolia plant named ‘SIR5’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 